I sold my d2h bodies intending to go FX D3s. I have an event to shoot in 2 wks. Is D300s a good choice
over D7000 , I usually don't shoot over ISO 1600. This is temporary till I can get a good deal on D3s. I forgot
to mention I have 28-70mm af-s and 17-35mm af-s. Anybody tried them on these bodies, nose weight and
feel on camera flip.

I have a D300 and love it. I wouldn't buy a D7000 over a D300, but this is just my opinion. The D7000 does have a newer sensor with better high ISO performance and better dynamic range, however the D300 has a better body, A/F system, and overall ergonomics. The D300 will also feel a bit better with larger lenses as the weight will be a bit more balanced. I find the D300 to have very nice image quality all the way up to ISO3200, but after that it starts to get a bit too grainy and you lose out on some colors. ISO5000 is still workable, but ISO6400 really starts to lose color fidelity. But if you need the shot, the D300 will get it.

Here are some high ISO shots with the D300 just so you can see what it is capable of.

ISO3200:

ISO3200:

ISO3200:

Sorry if they are small. Flickr just automatically resizes them after a certain amount of time.

I have both a d300 and d7000. Without doubt, the d7000 sensor is much better. I prefer to use the d300 when I can, for a variety of reasons, but mainly for the better AF and that it just feels/works better in my hands. The latter is far too subjective to be of much value to you, because you might have the opposite opinion after using both. Both are excellent cameras, IMO.

If the money is burning a hole in your pocket or you have NAS,
get a D5200.
It should be a big improvement over the D300s and D7000.
Otherwise, wait for the D7100.
Looks like that will be the new "top of the line" DX
There is no D400 in sight!

RRRoger wrote:
If the money is burning a hole in your pocket or you have NAS,
get a D5200.
It should be a big improvement over the D300s and D7000.
Otherwise, wait for the D7100.
Looks like that will be the new "top of the line" DX
There is no D400 in sight!

Roger - unless the D7100 comes in the next couple weeks, it isn't going to work for his shoot.

The D300 is a much faster camera. Faster burst rate, bigger buffer, faster/better AF performance in both initial acquisition and tracking, better handling, more physical controls, less menu diving. It's also a more rugged camera.

The D7000 has much better high-ISO noise performance, and 4MP more. But AF is slower, burst rate is slower, handling is slower.

If you can afford to take your time with every shot and plan/setup comfortably, then I'd vote for the higher IQ of the D7000. But if you need to move fast and shoot fast, or you're interacting with people who are doing stuff, then I'd prefer to have the lower (but still sufficient) IQ of the D300 and fewer missed shots.

Won't regreet it. The D300s is a beast of a camera -- and a real bargain these days. Don't overlook the Buy & Sell section here on Fred Miranda. Much more likely to find a clean copy that was used by a professional shooter -- and you'll have a much better idea of how the camera was used. Just my two cents worth.

Seriously you all think the D7000 is slow and bad AF? I have rocked 4 D7000's since they came out. We sold 4 D700's to get them. WHy did we want them? Because at the time it had highest MP and 1080P video for a low price to get 4 bodies. We shoot weddings, kids, seniors and short films. Never had an issue with AF. Never missed a shot because of it either.

^ +1 Lots of operator error with the D7K...new AF most never learned to use properly.
2 yrs and >200,000 clicks later I'm still shootin' BIF/Rodeo with one...hardly ever miss a shot
and if I do, it's not the AF to blame. Excellent in low light brewpubs/receptions too.

blutch wrote:
TM - what's new about the D7000 AF and what do we need to learn to use it reliably? Thanks! B
The D3/D700/D300(s) all have the Multi-CAM3500 51 pt we've come to know and love. Enter the D7K
Multi-CAM4800 with 39 pts and it's the new kid on da block. We all like keepers, right Love the new
sensor BUT what worked for you on the aforementioned bodys, needs to be tweaked to get similar #'s.
Not saying it's as 'good'...it's different, but no less reliable once mastered. Been an advocate for 2yrs
now and see that the new D600 also employs the Multi-CAM4800(FX). Need to get my hands on one

FWIW I've been trading 'monkey settings for a beer for over a year...with dozens of happy campers, here
as well as the Cafe & Nikonians. I put in the time, so you won't have too. Wife's idea - love that woman.

trenchmonkey wrote:
.... Enter the D7K Multi-CAM4800 with 39 pts and it's the new kid on da block. We all like keepers, right Love the new sensor BUT what worked for you on the aforementioned bodys, needs to be tweaked to get similar #'s. Not saying it's as 'good'...it's different, but no less reliable once mastered. Been an advocate for 2yrs now and see that the new D600 also employs the Multi-CAM4800(FX). Need to get my hands on one
:

I was hoping that TM would show up lauding the multi-cam4800. I'm considering a pretty expensive tradeup to a D600 (well, pretty expensive to me...) in order to shoot the kids' theater shows/concerts...not a forgiving environment especially when you consider the photographic skills of the author.

But all of that full frame, high ISO IQ goodness won't be real helpful if the AF can't lock on. I think the stage lighting will be enough to let the camera acquire/track focus, but I don't know. So I went looking around Riversbend Photograph hoping to find some rodeo shots under the lights with your D7K.....I've seen a few that you've posted here but no luck today. I'm assuming if you can get your D7K to hold focus for an 8 second ride under the lights, then I've got a fighting chance of getting at least a few keepers from teenagers singing & dancing across a stage. (btw, you have some other very nice shots there....but they just ended up making me think I should just bite the bullet and buy a D800 or worse a D3 ..... so I had to stop looking. )

I'm just trying to find some proof that the camera is going to do what I want it to do (well, assuming I've got the operator error under control) ....and that's acquire focus in lowlight (as well as shoot cleanly at 3200 ISO and hopefully somewhere around a SS of 1/250 ... faster if I can get it). It would be nice to have some confidence before I go plunk down $2K....but that may be the only way...try it from Costco and take it back if it doesn't work.

Nice shots as always trench... One thing that a lot of people that get in to photography think.... man look at that guys photos. I'm getting the same camera so my photos are just as good.... said guy buys same camera as me and trench and then gets mad. His photos suck and instantly hates the camera.....

Seriously, i shot a wedding with someone with a D4 and his photos SUCKED!!!! Big time..... Not saying the D7000 is better than a D4, but if you know what your doing then you can definitely take just as good photos.

trenchmonkey wrote:
The D3/D700/D300(s) all have the Multi-CAM3500 51 pt we've come to know and love. Enter the D7K
Multi-CAM4800 with 39 pts and it's the new kid on da block. We all like keepers, right Love the new
sensor BUT what worked for you on the aforementioned bodys, needs to be tweaked to get similar #'s.
Not saying it's as 'good'...it's different, but no less reliable once mastered. Been an advocate for 2yrs
now and see that the new D600 also employs the Multi-CAM4800(FX). Need to get my hands on one

FWIW I've been trading 'monkey settings for a beer for over a year...with dozens of happy campers, here
as well as the Cafe & Nikonians. I put in the time, so you won't have too. Wife's idea - love that woman. ...Show more →

Ok.. i get this TM.. but what exactly do you have to "tweak" with these sensors to get good #'s? I'm just now starting to photograph moving objects with the D600 and D7000. I could really use some advice on how to improve my focus. Thanks! B